Stamp vending machine



July 21, 1931. 1 w, BARNES 1,815,343

STAMP VENDING MACHINE Filed April 2'7, 192' v 4 Sheets-Sheet l anvemtoz July 21, 1931. J. w. BARNES 1,815,343

STAMP VENDING MACHINE Filed April 2'7, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 31400114301; J50 625 /%/0/7 fiavfag 'y 21, 1931-1 J. w. BARNES 1,815,343

STAMP VENDING MACHINE Eyes wk/w/jar/ a;

attozwugd July 21, 1931. J. w. BARNES STAMP- VENDING MACHINE Filed April 27, 192 4 5heets-Sheet 4 Patented July 21, 1931 UlTE STATES PATENT OFFICE:

JAMES WILLIAM BARNES, 0F HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, ."BY. MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL POSTAGE STAMP MACHINE CORPORATION, OF PITTS- BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE STAMP VENDING MACHINE Application filed. April 27, 1927. Serial No. 186,866.

' piece, but which at the same time returns one cent in change. In the accomplishment of this function there is provided in the machine a receptacle containing a stack of pennies. A movable shutter is provided at the lower end of the receptacle and is connected to the dispensing mechanism in such a manner that it discharges a cent on each complete operation of this mechanism. The cent is delivered to the exterior of the machine casing where it may be picked up by the operator. A locking device for holding the shutter out of operative connection with the dispensing mechanism is provided, whereby the function of returning one cent in change may be eliminated if desired. It is obvious also that another means of doing away with this function is to retain the penny container empty.

It is intended that the cost of installation and maintenance of the machine shall be derived from advertising matter associated with this machine. In this way it becomes economically possible to return the change as mentioned above. The machine carries a reel on which is mounted an endless band of advertising display cards. This reel is driven operation of the machine. A window eX- posing one card is provided in the housing whereby the display in this window is changed at each operation. The proceeds derived from the sale of this advertising space pays for the installation and maintenance of the machine as already stated, and the attractiveness of the advertising matter increases the use of the machine with the result that the advertising space acquires a considerable Value.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevationo-f the device with the top plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a detail view ofthe actuator;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3+3 ll of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view showing the 00111 slot at one end;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 77 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 8 is a detail rear view; Reference to these views will now by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout. The machine is built upon a base. 1 and includes end walls 2 and intermediate partitions 3 held in spaced relation by tie rods 4, 5, 6 and 7. The end walls 2 are flanged at both vertical edges as at 8 in order. to support front and rear glass plates (not shown). The partitions 3 extend substantially to the be made a planesof the flanges 8 and thus prevent the glass plates from tilting inwardly of the maof the machine as shown in Figure ,1,'one' unlt belng constructed to 155118, four one cent stamps and the other two cent stamps in a single'operation. Since both units are sub stantially identical, it is necessary to describe only one of them.

A main shaft 10 passes through the ma chine near the upper end thereof and carries at one end an operating crank 11. The shaft and crank are common to both units. Slightly below its vertical center, the end'plate 2 carries a horizontal roller 12 on which a strip] of stamps 13 is wound as shown more clearly 1 in Figures 3 and 5. .A supporting plate 14 is mounted on the tie rods between the mem-' bers 2 and 3 and carries at its outer side an intermediate plate having a finger 16 penetrated by a stem 17 extending from the supporting plate. Against the intermediate plate is placed a polygonal feed member 18 having a central hub 19 rotatably supported in both plates 14 and 15. The plate 15 is held stationary by this hub in conjunction with the pin 17. At the other side of the support ingiplate is a control disk 20 fixed to the hub 19 by screws 21 as shown more clearly in Figure 6. The feeder 18 is partly surrounded by a pair of arcuate guide members 22 and 23 (Figure 3) hinged on a pin 24 extending from the intermediate plate 15. The member 23 is held with proper tightness a ns he :feed r 1-8 y mea o a screw 25 threaded through an ear 26 formed .on the member 15. The other guide 22 is maintained yieldably against the feeder by a spring wound around the stud 24 and having its ends engaging both members 22 and 23.

The spindle previously mentioned loos-ely supports a roller 28 having a peripheral groove mounted between theniembcrs 2 and 14. The strip 18, as shown in Figure 3, is passed over the roller, beneath the feeder 18, being threaded downwardly within the ,guide and npwardly within the guide 23, and thence through a delivery opening in the top plate which has been previouslymentioned but not illustrated.

'The feeder 18 is rotated in .a manner presently to he described, and is preferably a square with each side equal to the length of two stamps. The corners of the square are formed with points 30 adapted to enter the perforations between the stamps and to ride in corresponding grooves 31 in the guides 22 and 23. The latter members hold the stamps in engagement with the corners and the-points so that these points will feed the stamps to the delivery opening as the feeder is turned. The yielding engagement of the guidesagainst the feeder permits the strip of stamps to in threaded in the manner described. The inner face of the control .disk 20 has .a pair of short diametrically opposed marginal flanges32 and 3321s shown in Figure,5, and between the flanges are formed inwardly extending lugs 34 and 35. The edge of the disk has notches 36. The same face of the disk is formed with an integral center block 37.s ubstantially square in shape and having arcuate depressions 38 in its sides cut to the radius of a given coin which in this case is a five cent piece. The opposite face of thepontrol disk ,is formed with an integral cam 40'having a pair of diametrically oppoe a n 4 s is scalloped as indicatedby the numeral 42. The ,disk 20 is mounted loosely on the shaft.

Qnthe shaft is also loosely mounted a segment 43 spaced sufiiciently from the disk. to

Between the points, the cam it in a raised position on the shaft.

accommodate a five cent piece. At the top of the disk a casting 44 is secured to the intermediate plate 14 and is shaped as a chute for delivering the coin from the upper end thereof to the space between the disk 20 and the segment 43. Beneath the chute, a shoe 45 is fixed to the plate 14 and is likewise spaced from the disk 20 sufficiently to accommodate the thickness of a live cent piece.

Between the partition 3 and the intermediate plate 14, an actuator 46, shown in detail in Figure 2, is pinned to the main shaft 10. This member has a pair of dogs 4'? and 48 pivoted to the top thereof by screws 49 and held in outwardly projected position by a connecting spring 50. Lugs 51 formed on the top of the actuator body limit the movement of the dogs.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, a coin of proper diameter and thickness dropped into the chute 44 falls to a position adjacent the disk 20, there being in the normal position of the disk no obstruction to such a path. The coin which is indicated by the numeral 52, Figure 5, fits between the flange 33 and one of the depressions 38 in the block 87. The coin is prevented by the segment 43 from falling laterally. On turning the crank 11, the shaft 10 carries the actuator which is fixed thereto. The dog 48 on the actuator 46 engages the coin which is bound in the position mentioned and thereby causes rotation of the block 37 and disk 20.

A quarter revolution, approximately, of the disk brings the body of the actuator into engagement with a lug 53 on the partition 3 as shown in Figure 1. The coin 52 is now near the end of the shoe 45 and readily falls from the shoe directly upon the base 1. During this quarter turn, one of the lugs 34, 35 is brought adjacent the original position of the dog 48. The dog is now returned to its original position where it readily engages the said lug so that the control disk may be turned another quarter revolution. One of the corners of the sector 43 is formed with a lug 54 adapted to engage the ends of a slot 55 cut in the casting 44. Although the sector is loose on the shaft, it may be carried frictionaliy with the rotating partsand is thereby limited to movement between the ends of tie slot 55. actuator, the dog 48 carries the lug toits uppermost position so that the sector is in operative position for holding a coin when On the return stroke of the it first enters the disk, 20. Each quarter turn. 7

feeds out two stamps and this four stamp delivery is obviously applicable to the one cent stamp side of the machine.

The portion of the shaft 10 disposed be neath the actuator is surrounded ;by a coil with the outer part of the actuator to hold The spring 56 extended as at 57 into engagement spring 56 is joined by a coil spring 58 to the tie rod 6, and this springfurther maintains the normal position of the actuator and shaft.

For the other side of the machine which dispenses two two cent stamps, there may be provided a feeding mechanism similar in construction but difiering in the design of the control disk, so that one quarter turn, delivering only two stamps, will be possible after the deposit of a single coin.

The partition 3 supports a vertical magazine 60 adapted to contain a column of pennies. Beneath the magazine, a bracket or shelf 61 is secured to the partition 3 as shown in Figure 8, and a shutter 62, having an opening the size of a one cent piece is pivoted between the shelf and the bottom of the magazine by means of a screw 63. A screw 64 (Figure 5) fastened in the intermediate wall 14 pivotally supports a lever 65 which engages the cam 40. This lever has an arm 66 bent laterally as shown in Fig. 8, and this arm is formed with a rack 67 meshing with fingers 68 projecting from the shutter 62. A wire spring 69 fixed to one end of the rack 67 and surrounding the pin 64 holds the arm 65 firmly in its en agement with the cam 40.

As the scalloped part 42 of the cam rides past the arm 65 on rotation of the disk 20 the rack and shutter are vibrated so that a coin is released from the stack in the receptacle 60. As there are two fingers 41 on the cam 40, one of these fingers will pass the arm 65 on each complete movement (two quarter turns) of the disk 20. These fingers swing the rack 67 rearwardly and throw the coin-receiving part of the shutter forwardly so that a one cent piece is dropped ofi the bracket 61. Beneath the bracket is provided a chute 70 having a hopper 71 for receiving the discharged coin. The chute 70 leads to an opening 72 in the forward and exposed part of the base 1, where the coin may be picked up by the operator. It will be apparent then that the operator receives for his five cent piece four cents worth of stamps and one cent change.

The pin 64 further carries a pivotally mounted detent 7 3 (Figure 5) having a locking head 74 adapted to enter the notches 36. The spring 69 is extended as at 75 and normally moves the head into a position whereby the control disk 20 when idle is locked against rotation. After the insertion of a coin and its occupation adjacent the center block 87 in the manner described, this coin expels the head 74 when the disk 20 turns. It will also be seen in Figure 5 that the hub 7 6 of the lever 65-67 has a notch 78 into which may be received a pawl 79 pivoted on the stem 73. This pawl may be used to hold the arm 65 out of engagement with the. cam 40 by swinging the lever 6567 to bring one of the teeth 67 upon the bent end of the pawl, so

. 65 that the machine will not operate to return one cent in change but will'serve only four cents worth of stamps for a nickel;

Between the partitions 3, a reel 80 is fixed on the main shaft 10. Adjacent one of these gageable by .the dog 47 of theactuatorat' this side of the machine An endless band of articulated disks 83 (Figure 1) carrying advertising matter is suspended from the reel 80. A similar reel 84 is mounted in the lower end of the band and is provided with journals 85 suitably mounted in the partitions 8. The engagement ofthedog 47 with the lugs 82 on rotation of the actuator obviously moves the endless band, and the lugs:

are so spaced with referenceto the width-of the cards 83, that the band is shifted to the extent of the width of one card on each quarterturn of the actuator. a The cover plate previously mentioned preferably has a window through which 'oneof 'theupper cards; is vlsible and the remaining cards may bei seen at all times through the glass front and back walls. end of each movement and held against ,undesired rotation by 'mean's'of adetent 86 pivoted by a pin 87 on the partition 3 and held in one of the notches 88 in the edge of the disk 81 by a spring 89.

At the top of each unit is mounted a slotted coin plate 91 adapted for alignment with the coin receiving chute 44. This plate has a pair of oblique slots 92 which receive fixed pins 93. A spring 94 connecting the plate to a fixed part of the machine tends to pull the plate out of alignment with the chute 44. On the tie rod 4 above the grooved roller 28 is pivotally mounted a follower 95 adapted to engage the strip of stamps passed around the roller. A spring 96 acting on the follower holds it firmly against the roller. To a side of the follower is pivoted a detent 97 having a stem 98 lying over the groove 29 of the roller. When the slotted plate 91 is moved into alignment with the chute 44 against the action of the spring 94, the detent 97 is adapted to engage the upper corner 99 of the plate and is held in this retaining position by the engagement of the stem 98 with the strip 13. When the strip has run out and has been carried off the roller 28 the stem 98 is free to drop into the groove 29, and there is no resistance to the action of the spring 94. Consequently the plate 91 is drawn out of alignment with the chute 44 so that a coin cannot readily be thrown into the machine, and this position of the plate is an indication that the machine is not to be operated.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made Without departing from the scope of the in- The disk 81 is stopped at the,

7 What I claim is i -1. In a vending mac-lime, d spens nginechan1sn1,.a co n magazine, a shutter adapted to vention as indicated by the appended claims.

a receive and expel a coin from said magazine,

said shutter being operatively connected to said mechanism, and means operable by said mechanism for vibrating said shutter in its coin-receiving position; i

2. a vending machine, dispensing mechanism, a coinzmagazine, a shutter adapted to receive and expel a coin from said magazine, a lever adapted to operate said shutter and operatively connected to said mechanism, and means operable by said mechanism for vibrating said lever and shutter in the coinreceiving position of the latter.

3. Ina vending machine, dispensing mechanism, a coin magazine, .a shutter adapted to receive and expel a coin from said magazine, a lever adaptedto operate said shutter, and a .camiinolnded in said mechanism and adapted to engage said lever, said cam having a portion adapted to vibrate said lever and shutter in the coinreeeiving position of thelatter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JAMES WILLIAM BARNES. 

